This MOOC identifies and explores a number of challenges to the finance professional arising from the ever changing business environment. Increasingly, financial decisions must take account of strategic consequences.
The first module, Exploring Strategic Position, Choice and Action helps in doing that – setting a strategic context for planning for, monitoring and controlling projects and activities. An on-going set of challenges is found in the evolution of International Reporting Standards.
The second module focuses on some recent changes in Standards, identifying the drivers for changes, and examining evolution in controversial areas such as leasing and goodwill.
The third and final module, Corporate Governance, examines issues which are causing people to re-assess the nature, purpose and scope of corporate governance, and challenges to making governance function effectively. Key issues here are the move to include a broader range of stakeholders, the perennial challenge of agency theory issues, shareholder activism, changing Board structures, and challenges to internal control to better manage risk.
This MOOC will be right for you if you are interested in engaging with some of the challenges facing finance professionals, even if you are not one yourself. If you are thinking about returning to study this will provide a taster of academic endeavours through reading articles, critiquing ideas, and blending theory with reality.

Flexible deadlines

Approx. 43 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: English

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Week

1

Hours to complete

12 minutes to complete

Welcome to Keeping up with Change: Issues for the Finance Professional

Welcome to Keeping up with Change: Issues for the Finance Professional. This course identifies and explores a number of challenges to the finance professional arising from the ever changing business environment. Increasingly, financial decisions must take account of strategic consequences. ...

Exploring Strategic Position, Choice and Action (Part 1)

Welcome to the first topic of 'Keeping up with Change: Issues for the Finance Professional'. In this module you will be exploring the four key areas of: Strategic Position, Strategic Direction and Choice, Strategic Action and Evaluating Strategic Action. Throughout the module you will have the opportunity to apply all of you learning into context, be that based on your own organisation, or your professional experience in general. This will enabling you to apply the theoretical models we cover in the module to your professional practice....

Does Digitalization, Globalization and Deregulation affect the Five Forces?10m

Porter's updating and critiquing of his Five Forces...10m

Three applied examples of Porter's Five Forces10m

Now complete your own Porter's Five Forces10m

Evaluating the application of PESTEL Analysis10m

Complete your own PESTLE Analysis10m

Exploring the limitations of The Value Chain10m

Recognising the impact of digitalization on the Value Chain10m

Now complete your own Value Chain/Virtual Value Chain10m

To read the online articles concerning the Ansoff Matrix10m

Complete your own Ansoff Matrix10m

Quiz1 practice exercise

Short Answer Test based on Lessons 1 and 216m

Week

2

Hours to complete

9 hours to complete

Exploring Strategic Position, Choice and Action (Part 2)

Welcome to the second part of the first topic of 'Keeping up with Change: Issues for the Finance Professional'. In this module you will be exploring two further key areas of: Strategic Action and Evaluating Strategic Action. Throughout the module you will have the opportunity to apply all of you learning into context, be that based on your own organisation, or your professional experience in general. This will enabling you to apply the theoretical models we cover in the module to your professional practice. ...

Now Apply Schein's (1985) Three Levels of Culture to an organisation of your choice10m

Exploring the usefulness of understanding culture in assisting with organisational strategy10m

Reflective Activity: Drawing up your own Cultural Web and critiquing its usefulness in developing strategy10m

Ted Talks: "How to run a company with (almost) no rules"10m

Henry Mintzberg's 'Organisational Configurations'10m

Now draw up your own Organisational Structure10m

Critiquing the Balanced Scorecard further10m

Now draw up your own Balanced Scorecard10m

Quiz1 practice exercise

Short Answer Test Based on Lesson 3 and 416m

Week

3

Hours to complete

3 hours to complete

International Reporting Standards (Part 1)

<p>Welcome to the topic of ‘International Reporting Standards’. In this module you will be exploring the two key areas of International Reporting Standards: Drivers for the updating to the International Reporting Standards and Goodwill Accounting.</p><p>The module has been designed leaving spaces for you to contribute to your learning by using your own experiences in life and at work. The module should help you to understand and examine some of the changes International Reporting Standards is undergoing currently and the drivers influencing these changes. Working through the module should also help you to identify the challenges faced by the effort and an opportunity to comprehend some of the possible ways to minimize these challenges. Overall, the module should help you to gain insight on the nature of changes happening in the International Reporting Standards while enabling you to reflect on some of the changes which we can anticipate in the future. </p>...

International Reporting Standards (Part 2)

<p>Welcome to the second part of the topic of ‘International Reporting Standards’. In this module you will be exploring the two more key areas of International Reporting Standards: Lease Accounting and Where to be in the Future. </p><p>The module has been designed leaving spaces for you to contribute to your learning by using your own experiences in life and at work. The module should help you to understand and examine some of the changes International Reporting Standards is undergoing currently and the drivers influencing these changes. Working through the module should also help you to identify the challenges faced by the effort and an opportunity to comprehend some of the possible ways to minimize these challenges. Overall, the module should help you to gain insight on the nature of changes happening in the International Reporting Standards while enabling you to reflect on some of the changes which we can anticipate in the future.</p>...

Instructors

About University of London

The University of London is a federal University which includes 18 world leading Colleges. Our distance learning programmes were founded in 1858 and have enriched the lives of thousands of students, delivering high quality University of London degrees wherever our students are across the globe. Our alumni include 7 Nobel Prize winners. Today, we are a global leader in distance and flexible study, offering degree programmes to over 50,000 students in over 180 countries. To find out more about studying for one of our degrees where you are, visit www.london.ac.uk...

Frequently Asked Questions

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When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?

Once you enroll for a Certificate, you’ll have access to all videos, quizzes, and programming assignments (if applicable). Peer review assignments can only be submitted and reviewed once your session has begun. If you choose to explore the course without purchasing, you may not be able to access certain assignments.

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What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?

When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.